[ XIII ] ᵃⁿᵍᵉˡ ᵒᶠ DEATH.

[yajmae]

     UPDATED REF.

[yajmae]

Azrael flinches, but it isn't shock which startles him. Her fingers are… cold, yet to recover their warmth after the storm. He remains still, rooted by an all new uncertainty; it's a tide, threatening to pull him under, and his fractured mind can't take much more. He can't kill her, he can't push her away and flee--- his lips part, upon them a mere few words uttered softly. " … What did you do to me…? "

[yajmae]

*ROMANCE HEADCANONS

NAME: azrael.

NICKNAME: none; sometimes uses the alias "malak".

ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: demi.

PREFERRED PET NAMES: none; he's terrible, pet names make him feel like a child.

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: single; in his own canon, he's currently in a... situationship with a human. being single is also very much a choice he's actively making as a relationship could quite possibly kill him.

FAVORITE CANON/FANDOM SHIP: in azrael's canon, he's in a situationship with a human named juniper miles. it's purely sexual attraction at this stage, but eventually, she is destined to become the lover that kills him (not that he's aware of that yet). he's a jerk and she can more than handle that, even tells him that to his face, but they've saved each other multiple times and there's a physical attraction pulling them together that they can't resist even if he tries.

OPINION ON TRUE LOVE: he doesn't care enough to speak on it; he definitely underestimates its existence as that will ultimately be his downfall, and denial makes him feel better about it.

OPINION ON LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT: oh, absolutely not, he doesn't believe that exists at all. given he knows what goes on behind the scenes of some relationships involving "love at first sight" (such as the involvement of cherubim), he doesn't believe it can happen organically.

HOW ‘ROMANTIC’ ARE THEY?: azrael has a very clinical view of romance and love; he doesn't know how to be any other way about it. it was never a large part of his upbringing, nor did he take to the way humans expressed it towards one another. he isn't romantic at all because he never understood the purpose of it.

IDEAL PHYSICAL TRAITS: none.

IDEAL PERSONALITY TRAITS: he seems to be attracted to strength (specifically emotional, rather than physical), someone who isn't afraid of their own shadow.

UNATTRACTIVE PHYSICAL TRAITS: none.

UNATTRACTIVE PERSONALITY TRAITS: overt optimism--- the kind that ignores reality, and stupidity, though sometimes the two coincide.

IDEAL DATE: he's never been on a date, but likely something that involves food.

DO THEY HAVE A TYPE?: strong people who can kick his ass. nope.

AVERAGE RELATIONSHIP LENGTH: he's never been in a legitimate relationship.

PREFERRED NON-SEXUAL INTIMACY: defeat him in combat, just physical contact (even if he doesn't quite know that yet, it's more of a subconscious feeling at the moment).

COMMITMENT LEVEL: high; he would kill for you.

OPINION OF PUBLIC AFFECTION: he's used to suppressing his feelings, so to outwardly express them, particularly somewhere public, is an unheard of concept to azrael.

PAST RELATIONSHIPS?: juniper miles.

[isolaradiale]

Our epic tale began on a cold, wintery eve. Under the dim light of a moon hidden by snowy clouds, the city transformed. Walls creaked and crumbled, rebuilt in an instant in new shapes; new forms. The modern metropolis was replaced with a realm crafted from sugary treats. Gingerbread walls, gumdrop roads, cinnamon stick trees, candy castles. For this was now a fantasy candy land: the realm of the Candy Witch.

"AWAKEN, WOULD-BE INVADERS!"

The witch's voice would boom, a thunderous sound with a tinge of familiarity to it. "You dare encroach upon my land? The Candy Witch's kingdom? Well then, I challenge you. Find me at the tippy top of my castle tower, but not before my trials are passed! Only then might you challenge me and, if you win, I may consider a way to send you home!"

In front of every non-NPC entity in the city a holographic paper appeared. A character sheet. "But the witch would not leave you without a means of accomplishing your tasks," Another voice spoke. It sounded similar to the witch's, but was much gentler. Almost as if there was a singular actor playing two different roles. "Will you take up a blade as the noble HEARTBREAKER? Perhaps you would prefer to cast the spells of the PASSION CASTER? Does the healing power of the LOVE DOCTOR tickle your fancy? Or does the path of the thieving HEART STEALER beckon to you? Fill out your character sheets and review the attached quest list, and let your journey begin!"

THE VOICE GOES SILENT

While the people of Spirale would hear nothing else for now, in a dark lab a young woman turned off her microphone. "I'm an android, I'm not supposed to be an actress..." Ofiuco rested her cheek gentle in front of her keyboard. "Oh well. I've always wanted to try LARPing, so why not give this a go? I think everyone could use something a little silly for a change, especially with Valentine's coming!"

═══════════════════════════════════

OVERVIEW

Welcome to our 33rd event, SUGAR QUEST IV: THAT MOMENTARY SWEETNESS! This event was inspired by a mix of old RPG games and silly mobile game events. So what's going on?

The people of the city are awoken to the sound of a familiar voice claiming to be the Candy Witch who issues you a challenge: pass her trials and find her at the top of the castle tower.

Everyone will fill out a quick character sheet that can be found on this page, which will determine your stats, class, and abilities!

The wards of the city have all been redesigned with a candy fantasy aesthetic, and you can find these changes listed in a section below. For the duration of the event you cannot access the branches.

Trials will be offered in the form of quests that can be chosen at your leisure. Participating in a quest is not mandatory for acquiring participation, but you will receive a flat 200 Stars for your character's account. You can only claim this 200 Stars once, so doing multiple quests will not net you more.

If you're just interested in event participation, any interaction will count regardless of whether it's in a quest or not! We'll also be offering Oficucotot, Bringer of Love as an exclusive event reward! She's a six inch, Ofiuco-shaped drone that follows after you and shoots tiny arrows at your foes. Not lethal, but very annoying! The item description reads: "Watch Your Eyes!".

YOU CAN FIND ALL OF THE INFORMATION ABOUT CLASSES, LOCATIONS, AND QUESTS HERE.

The event ends at 11:59:59PM on Friday, February 28th.

F.A.Q.

Will this event have a part 2? No! There is only one part to this event. There will be a raid battle during the last week of the event where everyone can face off against the Candy Witch, however.

Can we use our regular powers and weapons during this event? Unfortunately not! Your character has been stripped of their powers and had their physical abilities reduced to that of a normal human. You can only rely on the abilities and weapons provided by the class you choose and your character sheet stats! For non-humanoid characters, please reach out to the masterlist for accommodations!

Are the listed monsters the only ones in the setting? Nope! Those are just suggestions. You can design your own monsters to face, and even the ones listed alongside the locations are open to visual interpretation aside from the traits already listed.

Will my character undergo any visual changes during this event? Your selected class will grant you specific gear and weapons as part of that selection. Otherwise, nope! At least unless you disturb the fairies in the forest...

Are we required to use the quests for our threads? Nope! You can use them if you want the 200 Star reward, but it isn't mandatory to do a quest to get participation and the Ofiucotot, Bringer of Love. You can just do a different thread in the setting!

[existentialismee]

    –  ( ❀; @yajmae​​​​ ​​​​​​)

Fibonacci was a ward that Watanuki normally tried to avoid entirely when he was on his own-- yet the Stars, this time, had decided that was exactly where he would be taking residence. Of course, the higher levels were completely safe; it was the lower ones that the shopkeeper knew he should be wary of, and yet.. he found himself wandering down there all the same.

It wasn't the first time he had ended up in this world completely alone, yet this particular sting of loneliness felt so much deeper; cutting through his frame, shattering any smile he attempted to bring to life no matter who he spoke to. He knew it was dangerous to go alone, purposefully leaving Mugetsu behind in the safety of the shop while he followed that voice blaring loudly between his ears. Hitsuzen, fate, was insisting he traverse there that day-- even despite the dangers that were waiting for him.

Like a moth to a flame.

Perhaps it was his desperation that had clouded any instinct in that moment, when something suddenly struck him from behind in the never-ending darkness. The slicing of clothes, the warm springing of blood quickly pulling Watanuki from his trance-- albeit too late to avoid any injury, it seemed.

Yet as he whipped around, grasping at the wound in his side, he found that it was not a human enemy waiting for him. It was something more sinister, born from the terrible thoughts and feelings which flooded the floor of this ward. A dark, rising mass of what was once perhaps a spirit; and if he did not act quickly enough, it wouldn't be long before the shopkeeper lost this fight.

[yajmae]

THERE'S SOMETHING JUST LEFT OF NORMAL about this place; an uncanny forgery of god's creation--- a mockery, playing at the real thing. no wonder everything felt so wrong, and no wonder he could barely relax, nor stomach the situation, knowing the truth of his cage. their laws bind him here, an archangel, toxifying his mind and boiling his blood the longer he remains. there are things here that do not belong; creatures whose souls have been rotting, their only guidance now malice. his duty does not end with the separation of worlds, it seems, so he pursues them into the darkness.

azrael moves at a stride through the deepest and darkest corridors of the ground level, scarf draped over his head. at the forefront of his mind, the shade he intends to collect... and secondarily, the life it threatens. he'll deal with that headache later, but until then, his focus is to send it somewhere else--- anywhere but here. he breaks his stride at the last second, manifesting his khopesh into a hand while raising the other palm, freezing the entity in its tracks.

it's still a soul, if not a tainted one, beyond repair, and he can only maintain control over it for so long.

how he loathes feeling this weak.

wrinkling his nose the angel yanks his hand back sharply, and the shadowy mass follows, pulled towards him--- so he might cleave through it with his blade. as it splits in two, he peers at the man beyond, hand clamped over a fresh wound marring his side... and refuses to let that surprise register on his features. it's not who he expects to be at the center of this mess...

... but he can't deny his relief upon seeing him alive.

❝ ... kimihiro, ❞ something halfway to a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, ❝ you don't belong down here. ❞

[divinedevourer-a]

❝ Ah— ❞ His head falls backward, offering his smile toward the heavens. Silently, his shoulders leap while he hangs from statue with one arm, and then he swings around to peek past its marble, standing at a slight slant. At last, laughter erupts out of him. It's shrill and creaky, like he's just heard the funniest joke in all his life. ❝ Ahahahaha! Oh man! That's—pfft, ha! That's a good one! I gotta write that down. ❞

❝ You're a real stand-up comedian! Tell me... ❞ Vanth looks at him in infuriating playfulness, sliding a doting hand up the deity's stone back. ❝ Did Heaven send you? I'm surprised you didn't hear it from them... ❞ With a sigh, he rests his temple above where his fingers sit. The expression he wears turns subtler. Affectionate, even. ❝ I have a lot of practice with praying. But it's like God to keep His followers out of the loop... It's not like you'd have been told. ❞ Vanth feigns hurt, turning his lips downward. ❝ And still, it seems like you have a bone to pick with me... I can't imagine why. ❞

[yajmae]

CRACK!

an obsidian blade lodges itself deeply into the marble, just shy of the stranger's head... seemingly cast off by the still poised hand of the angel. it's a precise throw, cutting cleanly into stone with few cracks splintering off from the initial impact--- a warning shot, if he didn't get the picture. a smile still creases azrael's features, to spite the other's laughter, his evident lack of caution where the situation should call for it. perhaps the creature that's wearing his skin didn't quite hear him, and should listen much more closely.

❝ God didn't send me. ❞ he answers simply.

he's seen plenty of cases of demonic possession before, but few where the vessel is so deeply entrenched, completely lost. while he won't mourn the mortal condemned by the presence, this would be... doing him a favour.

[yajmae]

MUN TALKS ABOUT THE MUSE   ✟   ACCEPTING.

@allhesaid sent--- ↳ 😩?

😩 - hardest thing about writing the muse? 

azrael hates talking to people; he hates social interaction, he hates it when people talk to him (much less be kind to him, he finds it so odd), and has no qualms telling people to leave him alone. it definitely requires a special kind of persistence and patience to get to know him. he's the most unsociable motherfucker on this planet but on god i will force him into friendships whether his dumb ass likes it or not.

[yajmae]

MUN TALKS ABOUT THE MUSE   ✟   ACCEPTING.

@guidingstarmira sent--- ↳ 💡 and ✍!

💡 - what inspires you to write the muse? 

well firstly, i love psychopomps, surprising literally no-one i'm also very fascinated by religious lore and the horror tied into it. it's so rich, layered and juicy and one of my favourite mythologies to explore. i also love the idea that angels aren't always just these beautiful, kind and merciful creatures--- they sound fucking terrifying actually, and that's part of what inspired azrael in the first place.

📝 - favorite headcanon for your muse? 

answered here!

[yajmae]

MUN TALKS ABOUT THE MUSE   ✟   ACCEPTING.

@viladlind sent--- ↳ 📑 + 📝 + 📷 (i want to see da art, show me pretty boy)

📑 - favorite part of your muse’s backstory? 

azrael is, concerningly, following a dark path much alike lucifer; he's revolting against heaven, resents humanity for what they are, and would kill others without a second thought if they get in his way. however, eventually he is destined do die by way of one of the most human concepts ever: love. (like a reverse beauty and the beast lmao) furthermore, he's aware of it, and scorns the idea that it could ever happen, but it subconciously aids in his unwillingness to get close to or be vulnerable with anyone.

📝 - favorite headcanon for your muse? 

answered here!

📷 - favorite picture/screencap of your muse?

definitely this one, with this one at a close second!

[yajmae]

MUN TALKS ABOUT THE MUSE   ✟   ACCEPTING.

@cyberengle sent--- ↳ ✍ Favorite thing about writing the muse?

✍ - favorite thing about writing the muse?

that he resents humanity but does the most human thing ever and tries the weirdest foods and food combos. he has the capacity to be stupid and silly in a really deadpan way despite being serious 95% of the time.

[yajmae]

MUN TALKS ABOUT THE MUSE   ✟   ACCEPTING.

@divinedevourer sent--- ↳ 📝 + ⌨!

📝 - favorite headcanon for your muse? 

that the tattoos of eyes covering his body are never in the same place; they're constantly shifting and changing, coming alive in some cases when he experiences intense emotion, usually rage. makes drawing them a hell of a lot easier too.

⌨ - what’s a situation you’ve always wanted to RP with the muse? 

one type of situation i will always enjoy writing with azrael is when he encounters other celestial or demonic entities, that's always a good time. given how azrael barely trusts his own kind (angels), it's fun to see how they'll interact with him in turn. another is azrael finally experiencing the full extent of human emotion. it's seeping in little by little the longer he stays stranded in human form and the more fallen he becomes, so eventually it's gonna hit him like a truck. he'd rather die than admit any of it though.

[rpmemegraveyard]

Mun talks about the Muse

Send one of the following to ask the mun… (please specify muse for multis)

✍ Favorite thing about writing the muse? 👀Favorite thing about the muse’s appearance? 🌌Favorite alternate version of the muse? 💕Favorite ship for the muse?  💔Least favorite ship for the muse? 💢Something about the muse that annoys you? 😈Worst thing you’ve ever done to your muse?  😂Funniest thing that’s ever happened to your muse?  💡 What inspires you to write the muse?  📷 Favorite picture/screencap of your muse? 📑 Favorite part of your muse’s backstory?  📝 Favorite headcanon for your muse?  😒 Is there anything canon about your muse that you ignore?  🔮 What do you see in your muse’s future?  🔥 Unpopular opinion about your muse?  💭 Favorite memory of the muse?  😩 Hardest thing about writing the muse?  ⌨ What’s a situation you’ve always wanted to RP with the muse?  🎭 How similar are you and the muse? 

[yajmae]

[yajmae]

❝ ... ice-cream and fries ❞ he answers the stranger without a glance, a pinch of fries dipped in vanilla soft serve poised at his lips. someone had told him it was a good idea, but he's still not sure how he feels about it.

perhaps the celestial entity happening upon him here, secreted away in the gardens, can form her own opinion. chomping down on his fries, azrael then holds out the carton containing the last few, a cup of ice-cream waiting in the other--- a wordless offer to try it herself. perhaps she's not had much experience with the bizarre manner of food humans frequently indulge in here on earth... but that might be a little presumptuous.

@guidingstarmira

[divinedevourer-a]

There's this certain song and dance Vanth has with the church grounds. He would liken it to a bug flying around a lethal, electric lamp: weaving in and out from danger, toying with its demise while never quite committing. It is no secret that he and holy soil are destined to be at odds. A demon cannot enter a house for the divine, for he is forbidden from its doors on the principle of being tainted. He would burn and weaken, not unlike a twisted hero under the spell of an ore that is his one undoing. Yet Vanth comes close enough that his skin tingles with numbness, enticed by what he cannot have, what he yearns for deep down. This cold winter night, he loiters aimlessly on the church's doorstep. The statues are often his best company, and it is one he uses to brace himself on as he swings around it, laughing to nobody but his lonesome before coming face to face with another visitor. Their eyes meet in the darkness. Immediately, the stranger possesses his fascination—another longing beyond his reach, knowing them to be on opposing ends. His lips crawl apart, and he smiles. It doesn't reach his gaze. A mimicry is all it is.

❝ Hey... Did you come here... to pray? ❞

[yajmae]

STEPPING OUT INTO THE COLD, he hardly feels the wind as it feathers over his exposed skin, tousling his hair. it seeks to trap him in that feeling; the blood rushing to his cheeks, the desire for warmth--- the feeling of being human. he's encased in this mortal flesh, cursed to experience everything that comes with it. it adheres to his bones more and more tightly by the day, threatening to swallow him completely.

he hates it. he hates this prison they've bound him too. it's a punishment, to be reduced to something so weak. humans are open wounds, and any infection can crawl its way inside.

the extent of that truly grips him when a familiar rage floods back into his veins upon encountering a stranger beyond the church's walls. he stops, expressionless--- but his eyes tell a vastly different story. something... clings to his back; this thing with a human's face, wearing his body like a cheap costume.

the angel recognises that smell... and this man wreaks of it.

his lips curl into a joyless smile as his icy tone pierces the silence at last, shaming the winter swirling through the night air around them.

❝ ... no, ❞

❝ ... but you should start. ❞

[daxned]

Dam-bi silently watches as the man sets what's left on the grass. The creature takes a moment to put two and two together. It stares at the strange guy for a bit longer before long spindly legs takes it toward the sandwich. It makes a short, but pitched noise of curiosity before its mouth opens wide to inhale the sandwich.

"..." Dam-bi doesn't know what the man gained from feeding the creature, but she doesn't question it. Only feels she should replace that sandwich with something in return.

While he chows down on fries, the creature is back for more!

"That is enough," she tells the Sapling.

"How much was the sandwich?"

[yajmae]

ALTHOUGH HE HAD NO INTENTION of acquiescing a second time no matter the wrath it may incur, the girl seems to rein in the creature, sparing him the frustration. feeding a couple of fries between his lips, azrael doesn't owe the stranger his gaze, nor an answer, but he figures he has time for at least one of the two. he'll take his sweet time of it though, chewing through his fries... especially when it's clear that he isn't avoiding the conversation.

... kind of her to bother asking, at least.

❝ not much point in paying me for a bite. ❞ he pauses his meal only to grant her a handful of words, before resuming immediately afterward, before finally crumpling the empty container in a fist.

[amorinie]

Perhaps if they had been human, the sight of eyes coming to bloom across the stranger's cheek would have frightened them; yet still, Cherie remained almost impassive. Their focus was solely on the task at hand, to stop the chaos ensuing before their very eyes-- though that did not mean that their heart hadn't skipped a beat in surprise. Was it their touch that had angered him, or was it because their presence had been unannounced? Regardless, the twinge of regret in their heart was immediately palpable. On Earth, the only way they could speak to anyone was through physical touch-- being able to do so freely now was still something they were getting used to..

Yet despite their guilt, the fleeting thought of if they had done something wrong.. he reacted. So quickly that Cherie wondered if they had blinked, they would not have even seen him snatch the marshmallow that came perfectly between them.

Lips parting, their eyes shone brightly for a moment-- not another second could be wasted now, could it? But they would waste just that single moment of time, unable to help themselves from smiling brightly.

"Thank you."

Without another word, Cherie allowed their wings to take form; floating up into the air to catch yet another marshmallow about to fling itself into the back of Azrael's head. Tucking it securely into the crook of their arm, they began the tedious work of chasing the rest, one at a time.

[yajmae]

THE EYES ACROSS HIS CHEEK SEAL SHUT, and it were as though the flesh had never broken. it felt almost involuntary; the way every muscle ran taut through his arm, his jaw setting in place, fingers spreading like claws at his side--- the urge to kill, or be killed. every touch felt like a threat, never a kindness at the ends of someone's reach. that kind of compassion was only ever reserved for the guardians, or the cherubim... not an angel of death. not that he wanted it, anyway--- violence is in his blood, his bones, a comfortable familiarity... and he doesn't know how to be any other way.

when it became clear that they didn't mean him harm, azrael needed only to ease himself from their grasp. it wasn't tight, nor forceful, and so the instinct fades, vanishing once fully realising how bothersome these creatures truly were. examining it between his fingers for a moment, the archangel angles away to snatch another one from the air. he glances back only to acknowledge their gratitude with an empty stare... before a glimmer of surprise crosses his features upon the sight of their wings.

it curdles quickly however, his brow wrinkling.

the prospect of encountering another angel lost its meaning a long time ago.